For the Marathon Competition (7 of 7 Weasley fics)
Fred grins as he steps into the shop. It feels liberating knowing that he can finally buy something for his mother without price being a problem. She's done so much for him. She's put up with him and George when so many others would have lost their minds.
And now, with her birthday coming up, he has a chance to repay the favor.
"Ah! Mr. Weasley!" the old wizard calls excitedly, moving closer. "Business going well? Need a new self-stirring cauldron?"
"Not today, mate. I'm looking for something special."
The wizard gives him a knowing grin and pats his arm. "Shopping for that important woman in your life?" he guesses.
Fred chuckles. "The most important," he confirms. "My mother. Her birthday is coming up, and she's needed a new cauldron for about twelve years now."
The one his mother has used as long as he can remember is falling apart. He's heard whispered conversations between his parents over the years. It would be nice to have a new one, they would say. But the kids come first.
Now, the tables have turned. His mother comes first, as she should. After all, she deserves the world, but Fred will have to settle for something much smaller than the world.
"Here we are," the wizard announces. "Our latest copper model. Built in charms to prevent potions from burning or bubbling over. It also comes with a patented cooling charm in the metal to prevent any accidental injury to the one brewing. And!"
He rambles on and on about all the new features, but Fred is hardly listening. All he knows is that it's perfect. He can imagine his mother standing over the cauldron, smiling as she whips up some nice remedy.
"I'll take it," he says, interrupting the shopkeeper, digging into his pocket for a handful of gold.
…
"You didn't have to get me anything, dears," his mother says as he and George appear with their wrapped gifts. "It's your money. It's-"
"Exactly. It's our money," Fred agrees.
"And we can spend it on whatever or whoever we want," George adds. "And we've decided that we want to spend it on you."
"I mean. It can't have been easy dealing with George," Fred laughs. "He's a nightmare."
"Oh. But Fred, especially. Difficult little bugger. Dunno how you managed."
Their mother has tears in her eyes as she unwraps George's set of potion ingredients- box upon box of things their parents wouldn't be able to afford without sacrificing so much- and Fred's cauldron. "Boys… You didn't have to…" she says, wrapping them both in a crushing hug.
"We know," George whispers.
"We wanted to."